Picture-projecting apparatus



April 9, 1929. J PROg A 1,708,521

PICTURE PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1925 5 Shets-Sheet 1 April 9, 1929. J. PROKSA PICTURE PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H Hi 6 km .W s o 0 fi a c 9M3 2 7 .2 wk: m U

April 9, 1929. v J, PROKSA 1,2 %,522

PICTURE PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 9, 1929. J. PROKSA 1,703,521v

PICTURE PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 r I 1 I 1 A Ap 9, 1929. J. PROKSA PICTURE PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 7 a V %A\ "a M 7 v 5 u 491 mm/ m m Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES) 1,708,521 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PROKSA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HELIOS CORPORATION, OF

' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, QORPORATIOIE OF DELAWARE.

' .PICTURE-PROJECTING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 21, 1925. Serial No. 17,339.

My invention relates to improvements in motion picture projecting apparatus and particularly to apparatus of the kind described whereby the individual pictures of a film may be properly framed upon the screen. The invention has among its other objects the production of apparatus of the kind described, which is simple, convenient, compact, durable, reliable, eflicient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. A particular object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus which may be adjusted while in operation to properly frame the pictures so that each individual picture will appear by itself on the screen. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given. To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, the shutter being shown in dotted lines;

Figs. 2, 3-and 4 are sections taken on lines 22, 33 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sections taken on-lines 66, 7.7 and 88, respectively, of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, I have shown a preferred form of the invention embodied in motion picture projecting apparatus which includes film-feeding mechanism, preferably enclosed in a housing 30. The housing 30 preferably comprises a bottom plate 31, a top plate 32 and a front wall 33, the wall and the top and bottom plates being preferably formed integral with each other. Extending inwardly from the front wall 33 is a tubular boss 37. One side of the housing is normally closed by a door 38 mounted on the. front wall 33 by a hinge 39. The rear end of the housing is normally closed by a removable panel 43 and a door 44, the door 44 being hinged to the panel. The remaining side of the housing is provided with a door 71. The housing 30 is more fully shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 17,336 filed March 21, 1925.

The housing is preferably mounted upon and secured to a motor support 80 which is, in turn, mounted upon a suitable base (not shown). Adjustably mounted upon the support 80 is a bracket 88 upon which, in turn, is mounted an electrical motor 90 having a shaft 94. A friction disk 95 secured to the shaft 94 may be brought into and out of driving engagement with friction disks 97 and 98 carried by a shaft 100. The means for bringing the friction disk 95 into and out of driving engagement with the friction disks 97 and 98 is clearly shown and described in the aforementioned co-pending application, whichalso shows and describes means whereby the friction disks 97 and 98 are adapted to drive a pinion 128 (Fig. 2), the pinion 128 being secured to a shaft 127 journaled in the housing 30.,

The pinion 128 meshes with a gear 150 secured upon a shaft 151 which is rotatably journaled in a lug 152 formed upon the front wall 33. Meshin with the gear 150 is a gear 156 journaled upon a pin 157 projecting from a partition 160 which extends rearwardly from the front wall 33. The gear 156 meshes with a pinion 161 secured to a shaft 162 which is journaled in the partition 160 and has rigidly secured to it a film take-up sprocket drum 164 (Fig. 3). A bevel gear 165 formed integral with the gear 150 meshes with a bevel gear 166 rigidly secured upon the lower end of a vertically disposed shaft 168. The shaft 168 is rotatably journaled in lugs 1.69 and'170 formed upon the front wall 33. Also secured to the lower end of the vertically disposed shaft 168 is a spur gear 172 which preferably meshes with an elongated pinion 173 secured to the lower end of a verticall disposed shaft 175. The construction is such that the shaft 175 may be moved along its longitudinal axis without withdrawing the pinion 173 from operative engagement with the spur gear 172. Formed integral with the spur gear 172 is a bevel gear 177 which meshes with a bevel gear 178 v secured to a shaft 179, the shaft 179 being rotatably journaled in a bracket 181 mounted ina hollow boss 183 projecting from the front wall 33. The shaft 179 is operatively connected to a shutter 194 by means more fully shown and described in the aforementioned co-pending application.

Rigidly secured to the upper end of the vertically disposed shaft 168 is a spiral gear 212, which meshes with a spiral gear 213, which is formed upon a tubular member 214. Also formed upon the tubular member 214 is a pinion (shown in the above mentioned co-pending application), which meshes with a gear 217 secured to a shaft 218 rotatably journaled in a boss 220 formed integral with the partition 160. Secured to one end of the shaft 218 and aligned with the take-up sprocket drum 164 is a feed sprocket drum 222. )Vhen the apparatus is in operation the sprocket drums 164 and 222 are continuously driven and are adapted to withdraw the film from a supply reel (not shown) positioned above the housing 30.

Cooperating with each of the sprocket drums is a plurality of grooved rollers 224 adapted to hold the film in proper engagement with the teeth of the sprocket drums. The grooved rollers 224 are rotatably mounted upon pins 225 and 226 carried by levers 227 which are pivotally mounted upon each of a plurality of pins 229 projecting from the partition 160. Each grooved roller 224 may be provided with a flange 240 adapted to engage an edge of the film so as to align the film with the sprocket drums. Associated with each sprocket drum 164 and 222 is a plate 243 secured to a pin 244 projecting from the partition. The plates 243 are adapted to strip the film from the sprocket drums in the event that the film tends to adhere there-to.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the aforementioned shaft 175 is rotatably mounted in a casing 245 and in a cap 246 which is secured to the casing by screws 247, ball bearings 248 and 249 being provided for this purpose. The ball bearing 248 has its outer race secured in a bushing 248" which is rotatably mounted in a bore 248 formed in the cap 246, the ball bearing being eccentrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bore. One race of the ball bearing 249 is secured in a bushing 249 rotatably journaled in a bore 249" formed in the casing 245. The ball bearing 249 is ecccntrically disposed with the longitudinal axis of the bore 249. The bushings 248 and 249 are provided with levers 248 and 249, respectively, whereby the bushings may be rotated to adjust mechanism hereinafter described. Mounted upon the shaft 175 are cams 250 and 251, the cam 251 being keyed to the shaft 175 and being held against longitudinal displacement rela tive to the shaft by collar 253 formed upon the shaft and by a collar 254 driven upon the shaft. The cam 251 is disposed in a well 256 formed in the lower portion of the casing 245,.the well 256 being provided with a closure plate 257 and being adapted to hold any suitable lubricant. The cam 250 is splined upon the shaft'175 and is disposed in a well 260 formed in a casing 261 provided with a cap 263, the well 260 being also adapted to hold a supply of lubricant. A sleeve 264 threaded into the cap 263 and a ball bearing 266 interposed between the cam 250 and thecasing 261 prevent longitudinal displacement of this cam relative tothe casing 261. The cam 250 and the casing 261 with its cap 263 may move as a unit up and down upon the shaft 175, the cam being constrained to rotate with the shaft. The cams 25,0 and 251 are preferably of the type disclosed in my United States Patent #1,170,991 of February 8, 1916, and each cam is provided with a pair of oppositely inclined counterpart grooves 270 adapted to be engaged and traversed by a plurality of prongs 271 radially disposed upon one of a plurality of star Wheels 273 and 274, the star wheel 273 being associated with the cam 250 and the star wheel 274 being associated with the cam 251. The cams 250 and 251 may be accurately aligned with the star wheels 273 and 274, respectively, by manipulating the levers 248 and 249 to move the shaft 175 relatively to the star wheels.

As clearly described in the aforementioned patent, each revolution on one of the cams 250 and 251 is accompanied by rotation of the associated star wheel through a smaller angle so that when the cams 250 and 251 are continuously driven the star wheels 273 and 274 will be intermittently driven. The star wheels 273 and 274 are rigidly secured to shafts 276 and 277, respectively, the shaft 276 being rotatably journal-ed in the casing 261 and the shaft 277 being rotatably journalcd in the casing 245. Secured to the shafts 276 and 277, respectively, and aligned with the sprocket drums 164 and 222 are sprockets 280 and 281.

Formed in the door 44 is a light projecting aperture 59 rearwardly of which is mounted the lightingapparatus (not shown). A plate 304 mounted upon the inner side of the door 44 is provided with a light projecting aperture 303 aligned with the light projecting aperture 59.

Projecting through the casing 261 and rigidly secured thereto are a pair of vertically disposed pins 306 and 307, which are slidably journaled in the casing 245 and the cap 246. Compression springs 308 disposed around the pins 306 and 307 are interposed between the casings 245 and 246 and tend to hold the casing 261 in a position wherein the sleeve 264 bears against the inner race of the ball bearing 248. This construction permits the sprockets 280 to be moved toward the sprockets 281 when the film is to be threaded through the apparatus so that the springs 308 may afterwards increase the distance between the sprockets 280 and 281 to draw the film taut. The film is held in engagement with the teeth of the sprockets 280 by a pair of grooved rollers 310 having flanges 311 adapted to engage the edges of the film. In a like manner the film is held in engagement with the teeth of the sprockets 281 by a pair of grooved rollers 313 having flanges 314 adaptedto engage the edges of the The grooved rollers 310 are rotatably journaled upon a pin 315 carried in a bracket 316 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 318 secured in a pair of lugs 319 formed integral with the casing 261. The rollers 310 may be swung out of their functionally operative positions whenever a film is to be threaded through the apparatus. A leaf spring 320 secured to the casing261 is adapted to yieldingly holdthe bracket in or out of the position wherein the rollers 310 are operatively engaging thesprockets 280. The position which the rollers 310 will assume with respect to the sprockets 280, when they are in their functionally operative positions, is adjustable to arelatively small extent by a screw 324 which may be manipulated to move the rollers with respect to the sprockets.

The grooved rollers 313 are carried by a pin 326 mounted in a threading lever or bracket 327 which is, in turn, pivotally mounted upon a pin 328, the pin ,328 being rigidly secured in a pair oflugs329 formed upon the casing 245. Therollers 313 may be swung into and out of their functionally operative positions with respect to the sprockets 281. A leaf spring (not shown) secured to the easing 245 is adapted to yieldin gly hold the bracket 327'in or out of the position wherein the rollers 313 are operatively engaging the sprockets 281. The functionally operative position of the rollers 313 may be varied by manipulating a screw 332. A plate 334 secured to the casing 245 will strip the film from the sprockets 281 if the film tends to adhere thereto.

Secured to the bracket 327 is a plate 340 having a cam slot 341 in which rides a pin 342 projecting from a lug 344 formed integral with thecasing 261. The cam slot 341 is so designed that when the rollers 313 are brought into their functionally inoperative positions with respect to the sprockets 281, the casing 261 will be drawn toward the easing 245 against the action of the springs 308. This, as hereinbefore explained, permits the film to be trained over the sprockets 280 and 281 in such manner that when the rollers 313 are restored to their functionally operative positions the strip of film between the sprockets280 and the sprocket 281 is suitably ten- 'sioned.

The above described mechanism associated with the sprockets 280 and 281 and including the brackets 316 and 327 is more clearly shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 17,340 filed March 21, 1925.

As best shown in Fig. 3, a plate 346 is positioned intermediate the sprockets 280 and 281, the plate 346 being in close proximity to the plate 304 when the door 44 is in its closed position. During the operation of the apmeans described in the above mentioned copending application. I

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the casing 245 is slidably journaled upon a pair of vertically disposed pins 284 and 285 and may be raised and lowered by means preferably comprising a lever 286, which is secured to a shaft 287 pivotally mounted in the front wall 33, the shaft 287 having a lever 288 secured to its inner end, which lever 288 carries an anti-friction roller 289 engaging a groove 290 formed in the casing 245. The pins 284 and 285 are provided with hexagonal heads 284 and 285, respectively, adapted to receive a wrench or the like and they are screw-threaded into the top plate 32. Lugs 283 formed upon the front wall 33 are apertured to receive the shank portions of the pins 284 and 285. The antifrictionroller 289 is journaled upon a pin 291 mounted in the free end of the lever 288. Secured to a lug 300 formed upon the front wall 33 is one end of a helical spring 301, which is trained over a sheave 302 and has its other end secured to the pin 291. The sheave 302 is journaled upon a pin 302 pro jecting from the front wall 33. The spring 301 counterbalances the casings 245 and 261 together with, the mechanism carried thereby,

the casings being slidably journaled upon the vertically disposed pins 284 and 285. The mechanism carried by the casings 245 and 261 includes the cams 250 and 251, the star wheels 273 and 274, the sprockets 280 and 281, and the brackets 227. Movement of the lever 286 is limited by a pin 447 which projects from the front Wall 33 into a slot 448 formed in a washer 449, the washer 449 being fixed to the lever 286 by a screw 450 (Fig; 5).

In the operation of the apparatus a loaded supply reel (not shown) is positioned above the housing 30 and an empty take-up reel (not shown) is positioned below the housing, means (not shown) being provided whereby the take-up reel may be driven. The doors 44 and 71 are opened and the grooved rollers 224, 310 and 313 are moved to their functionally inoperative positions. Movement of the grooved rollers 313 to their functionally IIIOPGIat-lVQ positions is accompanied, of. course, by movement of the sprockets 280 toward the sprockets 281. A section of film is then withdrawn from the supply reel and passcd through slots (not shown) in the housing 30, the section of film being brought into alignment with the sprocket drums 222 and 16a and the sprockets 280 and 281. The manner in which the film is preferably threaded through the apparatus is indicated in dotted lines at 4-52 in Fig. 3 but the invention is not limited to this particular method. The grooved rollers 310 and 313 are then restored to their functionally operative positions, thus causing the sprockets 280 to draw away from the sprockets 281 so as to tension the portion of film disposed between these sprockets. The grooved rollers 224 are then brought into operative engagement with the sprocket drums 16st and 222 and the apparatus is set in motion. If the individual pictures upon the film do not properly register with the light projecting apertures 303 and 2347, the operator may manipulate the handle 286 to raise or lower the casings 24:5 and 261 together with the sprockets 280 and 281 until the pictures properly register with these light pro ecting apertures. An advantage of my improved construction is that this adjustment may be quickly and easily made while the apparatus is in operation.

It will be readily understood that the cas-- ings 245 and 261 together with the n'iechanism disposed therein and carried thereby constitute a unitwhich may be quickly and easily removed from the apparatus at any time or may be swung into a position wherein it may be readily inspected, adjusted or repaired. If this unit is to be removed from the apparatus, it is only necessary to remove the tubular member 348 and the pins 284 and 285 from the apparatus. This will permit the unit to be lifted from its position within the apparatus. If the pin 28% is not withdrawn, the unit may be swung around this pin, as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The operator may then inspect, adjust or make minor repairs in the unit.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangen'ient and combinations of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame having a light projecting aperture. a rotatable member engageable with a film for advancing it, a second rotatable member engageable with the film for advancing it,

motion converting means for intermittently rotating said rotatable members, and means for pivotally mounting the motion converting means in the frame.

2. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame having a light projecting aperture,

a rotatable member engageablc with a film for advancing it, a second rotatable member engugeable with the film for advancing it, motion converting means for intermittently rotating said rotatable members, and quickly detac iable means for slidably mounting the motion converting means in the frame.

3. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame having a light projecting aperture, rotatable means for intermittently advancing a film, a second rotatable means for intermittently advancing the film, said second rotatable means having an axis of rotation spaced from the first rotatable means, means for driving the first and second rotatable means. and means operable when the first and second rotatable means are in operation for bringing them as a unit into a- 13 luralityof adjusted positions with respect to the light projecting aperture.

4. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame having a light projecting aperture, rotatable means for intermittently advancing a film, a second rotatable means for intermittently advancing the film. said second rotatable means having an axis of rotation spaced from the first rotatable means. means for causing relative motion between the first and second rotatable means to tension the film, means for driving the first and second rotatable means, and means operable when the first and second rotatable means are in operation for bringing them as a unit into a plurality of adjusted positions with respect to thelight projecting aperture.

5. In apparatus of the kind described, a frame having a light projecting aperture, rotatable means for intermittently. advancing the film, a second rotatable means for intermittently advancing the film, said second rotatable means having an axis of rotation spaced from the first rotatable means, yieldable means for causing relative motion between the first and second rotatable means to tension the film, meansfor driving the first and second rotatable means, and means operable when the first and second rotatable means are in operation for bringing them into a plurality of adjusted positions with respect to the light projecting aperture.

6. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination. a frame, continuously driven means, means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, means for pivotally and slidably mounting said motion converting means on the frame, and means for preventing movement of said motion converting means around its pivotal axis.

7 In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame, continuousl driven means,a plurality of like means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, means for causing movement between said convertmus er mg means to tension the film, means for pivotally mounting said motion converting means on the frame, and readily removable means for holding the motion converting means against movement around the pivotal axis.

8. lln apparatus of the kind described and in-combination. a frame, continuously driven means, means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, means quickly detachable from the frame for slidably mounting the motion converting means on the frame, and means for displacing the motion converting means along the last-mentionel means when the film is being advanced.

9. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame having a light 'proj ecting aperture, continuously driven means, a plurality of like means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, said converting means being movable relative to each other to tension the" film, and means for bringing said motion converting means as a unit into a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the light projecting aperture when the film is being advanced.

10. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame having a light projecting aperture, continuously driven means, means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, means for bringing said motion converting means as a unit into a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the light projecting aperture, and means for counterbalancing said motion converting means as a unit.

ill. "in apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame having a light proecting aperture, continuously driven means, means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to ad Vance a film, means for bringing said motion converting means asa unit into a plurality of adj usted positions relative to the light projecting aperture when the film is being advanced, and means for counterbalancing said motion converting means as a unit.

12. in apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame having a light projecting aperture, continuously driven means, means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, means for bringing said motion converting means into a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the light projecting aperture, and means including a spring for counterbalancing said motion converting means.

13. in apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame having a light projecting aperture, continuously driven means, means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion andadaptcd to advance a film, means for bringing said motion converting means into a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the light projecting aperture when the film is being advanced, and means including a spring for counterbalancing said motion converting means.

14. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame having a light projecting aperture, continuously driven means, means for converting the'continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, means for bringing said motion converting means into a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the light projecting aperture, a member rotatably journalled on the frame, and a spring trained over said member and having one end secured to the frame and having the other end secured to the motion converting means to counterbalance the motion converting means.

15. in apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame, continuously driven means mounted in the frame, means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, a

casing housing said-last named means, and a plurality of rods screw-threaded into said frame and quickly detachable therefrom, said motion converting means and its casing being slidablv mounted as a unit on said rods and adaptedto pivot on one of said rods when the other i removed from the frame.

16. in apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a frame continuously driven means mounted in the frame, means for converting the continuous motion into intermittent motion and adapted to advance a film, and a plurality of rods screw-threaded into the frame and quickly detachable therefrom for slidably mounting said converting means in the frame, said motion converting means being adapted to pivot on one of said rods when the other is removed from the frame. 4

1'7. ln apparatus of the kind described, a frame having a light projecting aperture, rotatable means for intermittently advancing the film, a second rotatable means for intermittently advancing the film, said second.

rotatable means having an axis of rotation spaced from the axis of rotation of the first rotatable means, yielding means for causing relative motion between the first and second rotatable means to tension the film, means for causing relative motion between the first and second rotatable means against-the action of the yielding means, and means operable when the first and second rotatable means are in operation for'causing relative motion between them as a unit and the light projecting aperture.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto signed my name.

- JGHN PRQKSA. 

